Joel Murphy and Yury Gitman, makers of the Pulse Sensor for Arduino, recently gave their product a complete overhaul. What emerged is the new Pulse Sensor Amped, and it’s now available in the Maker Shed. This version now contains built-in amplification and noise reduction circuitry allowing for faster, more reliable pulse readings. Not only that, it’s now 5V and 3.3v compatible so the same sensor that works with an Arduino Uno will work on a Lilypad Arduino. The Pulse Sensor is a great way to incorporate bio-feedback into your projects and give them that human element. To give you an example of what’s possible, here’s a project by Make alum Becky Stern that uses this sensor, a Mintduino, and an Open Heart kit to make a unique, flashing headband.

I am the Evangelist for the Maker Shed. It seems that there is no limit to my making interests. I’m a tinkerer at heart and have a passion for solving problems and figuring out how things work. When not working for Make I can be found falling off my unicycle, running in adverse weather conditions, skiing down the nearest hill, restoring vintage motorcycles, or working on my car.

When I went for a Dr appt recently, I got my taste of the latest portable heart rate monitor – a battery operated thimble that slips over an index finger. No more estimating heartbeats by counting beats for a few seconds and multiplying the needed factor. Didn’t seem to have an output like the pulsesensor does, but it’s interesting nonetheless.